Watch: Suspended Mpumalanga police commissioner alleges R5m bribery plot

Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, the suspended Mpumalanga police commissioner, has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to direct the Madlanga Commission and the parliamentary ad hoc committee to probe alleged police corruption in the province,reportsLowvelder. Speaking at a press conference at Southern Sun Mbombela today (April 19) Manamela made explosive allegations against the national police commissioner (Nascom), General Fannie Masemola. She claimed that Masemola, along with retired Mpumalanga deputy police commissioner for detective services, Major General Botsotso Moukangwe, accepted a R5m bribe from Kaizer Chiefs boss Bobby Motaung.

According to Manamela, this was in return for Masemola ensuring that she would not return to work following her suspension. Manamela alleged that Motaung feared that if she returned, she would revive the stalled case concerning the murder of Mbombela Speaker Jimmy Mohlala. “Motaung was arrested in Mpumalanga for fraud and corruption relating to the building of Mbombela Stadium.

This case was later linked with that of the assassination of Mohlala,” said Manamela. Mohlala, who was regarded as a whistle-blower on alleged corruption in the building of Mbombela Stadium, was shot and killed at his KaNyamazane home on January 4, 2009. Manamela said Moukangwe had confessed to her about the R5m bribe and alleged that he shared 50% of it with Masemola.

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Moukangwe dismissed the allegations as a smear campaign. “It’s simply the last kick of a dying horse. If l confessed to her that Nascom and l received the R5m, what stopped her from arresting me?” asked Moukangwe.

Manamela stated that the alleged corruption runs deep within the ranks of Mpumalanga law enforcement and requires intervention at the highest level of government. Suspended Mpumalanga police commissioner Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela speaks out about docket interference in the province. > Video: Riot Hlatshwayo

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